Thomas Chabot has been named the new captain of the Ottawa Senators, the team announced Tuesday ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season. The 29-year-old defenceman will assume the leadership role following the departure of Brady Tkachuk, who was traded to the Florida Panthers this past June after requesting a trade.

Chabot, a native of Sainte-Marie, Quebec, becomes the 11th captain in franchise history. He is the longest-tenured current Senator, having made his NHL debut in the 2016-17 season after being selected 18th overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. Over his tenure, he has played through seven seasons without a playoff appearance until the team’s return to the postseason in 2024-25, when they were swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round.

In 569 career games with Ottawa, Chabot has tallied 78 goals and 335 points. Last season, he contributed seven goals and 31 points in 57 games. Chabot is under contract through the 2027-28 season with a salary cap hit of US$8 million.

At the press conference, Chabot emphasized his personal attachment to Ottawa, noting that he and his family have established strong roots in the city. His wife, Marion, recently gave birth to their daughter. “Ottawa will always be close to our heart, no matter what,” he said. Reflecting on the team’s trajectory, he added, “Every organization goes through different times, and we’re looking ahead in what we have here. We have tons of guys that are happy to be here and want to play and want to wear this jersey every night.”

Alongside Chabot, Claude Giroux, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson were named alternate captains. Senators general manager Steve Staios praised Chabot’s leadership qualities, describing him as a natural fit. “The players gravitate to him. The way that he plays the game, the way he commits to the game is inspiring for his teammates,” Staios said. “We had the very fortunate ability to look at a number of players on our group to be able to lead us, but clearly Thomas is the guy.”

Chabot has also served as a notable ambassador for the Senators’ francophone fanbase in the Ottawa-Gatineau region. The Senators open their upcoming season Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.